Join our Trans-Atlantic Support Team!

We’re looking for another support team member! Specifically, we’re seeking a native English speaker in the GMT zone or thereabouts, so our poor Jim doesn’t have to work alone in the UK while the rest of us are snoring soundly!

You’ll be responsible for providing tremendous customer service via email for Basecamp, Basecamp Classic, Highrise, Backpack, and Campfire. You’ll also help us answer questions via Twitter, create and edit help documentation, and maybe run some online classes.

You’ll be expected to answer about 75 emails per day once you’re fully up to speed (2-3 months or thereabouts). This is a significant volume, so be sure that you’re ready and able to deal with that kind of daily load – you’ll get all the love and help you need along the way!

We’re looking for some great writers who love helping our customers, so you should enjoy making complicated situations simple and painless and have a passion for our products.

How to apply

A description of a great customer service/support experience you had recently, and what made it great.

Also, pick three of the questions from customers below and answer them like you would if you worked here:

Does the new Basecamp offer time tracking?

Is the new Basecamp offered in any other language besides English?

I’m interested in your products, but not sure which one is right for me. What’s the difference between Highrise and Basecamp?

I’ve been a Basecamp Classic user for years and see you have a new version. What’s the difference between the versions, and why should I switch?

Is there a reporting function in the new Basecamp?

We offer heaps of lovely benefits, plus a progressive work environment. Starting salary is $45k USD, depending on experience.

Email everything to jointheteam@37signals.com. Include “Customer Support” in the subject line. If you’re attaching a resume, please send it as a PDF. Note: We look favorably on people who get creative with their applications.

Anonymous Coward

Any chance we can be paid in British Pounds so that we don’t have to worry about currency exchange fluctuations which could negatively effect our monthly take-home pay?

Anand

on 05 Sep 12

45k USD is a month or a year?

AC

on 05 Sep 12

It’s interesting that 37signals didn’t just post this position to their Job Board

ESP

on 05 Sep 12

I am not sure about US, but this is a quite low salary for Europe.

Moss

on 05 Sep 12

@ESP: Starting salary of £28k + benefits + (I assume) working from home for a first line customer support job is not bad at all, above average for sure.

Kevin

on 05 Sep 12

@ESP, I agree with @Moss. Not only are you working from home at a very respectable wage, but, more importantly, you get to work for a company that is so incredibly prestigious, passionate and, without a doubt, one of the best organizations to work for, learn from and call your home away from home (even if you are working from home). I have very little doubt that they will have a fair amount of highly qualified candidates and, likely, a numerous that are well overqualified just to be a part of something so distinctive, amazing and fun.

Life at 37signals is more than a 45k base salary. Haven’t you been reading this blog? ;)

Greg Macoy

on 05 Sep 12

Perhaps I’m nitpicking, but is it fair to ask for a “native English speaker”? Surely, as long as their proficiency in English is of a sufficiently high level, it shouldn’t matter if they are a native speaker or not.

Jonta

on 05 Sep 12

@Greg: I thought along the same lines. But I assume they’ll get more than enough applicants from native English speakers, and that some non-native ones will also apply, pretending it is their mother tongue.

Lee

on 05 Sep 12

@Kevin, it is all about the money honey, if you work for peanuts for a company, no matter how great they are, you will live a life with no luxury and die a pauper after a life of hard work spent enriching someone else.

Well, a “native English speaker” doesn’t necessarily mean someone who grew up learning English as a first (and maybe only) language and/or someone who grew up in an primarily English-speaking country. I grew up bilingual but naturally gravitated towards English and now consider myself a native speaker, with Filipino as my 2nd language.

I think they simply mean someone who can communicate fluently in English, with an intimate understanding of the idioms, idiosyncrasies, and cultural references so unique to the language. I know someone in the Philippines who has never been to the U.S. and yet speaks/writes English better than many so-called native English speakers.

Cheers,
Marjorie

Greg Macoy

on 06 Sep 12

@Marjorie, unfortunately, I think that is largely what it means – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_language though I completely agree with you. For instance, there are many cultural differences and idiosyncrasies between UK English and US English. Perhaps UK English is inferred from the GMT reference, and perhaps they simply mean someone who is sufficiently fluent, but I just feel like it’s an odd thing to put in a job advert. I’m not sure what the law is like in the US, but as far as I understand it in the UK, it could be seen as discouraging people from different backgrounds to apply. I’m sure it’s just an oversight but it has the potential to cause a upset.

Greg Macoy

on 06 Sep 12

I’m showing my poor English skills there “a upset” – oops!

Semyon

on 06 Sep 12

I’m interested in answers too :-)

Emily

on 06 Sep 12

Re. salary, 45k is the base but we get a lot more than that out of working for 37signals. I think I can safely speak for the support team when I say we feel we’re all compensated more than fairly and love working here!

Also, it goes without saying (or it should, anyway!) that we’ll happily review applications from people from all kinds of backgrounds. We do mean “someone who can communicate fluently in English, with an intimate understanding of the idioms, idiosyncrasies, and cultural references so unique to the language.” Well put, Marjorie! Perhaps “native English speaker” sounds too exclusive, in which case, we’re sorry. It’s just that with a heavy volume of emails, all in English, dealing with often complex issues, we’ve found it’s essential to have a super-firm grip on the language. That’s all! :)